Queueing beverage machine preparations

Abstract

Various illustrative systems, devices, and methods for beverage machines are provided. In one exemplary implementation, a system is provided that includes a beverage machine configured to brew a beverage and to froth milk. A user interface of the beverage machine is configured to receive a first user input requesting the beverage machine to start performing a first task and to receive a second user input requesting the beverage machine to start performing a second task. The performance of the second task is queued to begin automatically after the performance of the first task, and, after the first task has been performed, the beverage machine is prepared for the performance of the second task based on whether the first task is brewing the beverage or frothing the milk. The second task is the other of brewing the beverage and frothing the milk.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a beverage machine configured to brew a beverage and to froth milk, comprising:
 a user interface configured to receive a first user input requesting the beverage machine to start performing a first task and to receive a second user input requesting the beverage machine to start performing a second task, wherein the first task is one of brewing the beverage and frothing the milk, and the second task is the other of brewing the beverage and frothing the milk, 
 a controller, and 
 a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising:
 queuing the performance of the second task to begin automatically after the performance of the first task, and 
 after the first task has been performed, preparing the beverage machine for the performance of the second task based on whether the first task is brewing the beverage or frothing the milk. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to receive the second user input during the performance of the first task. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to receive a third user input requesting the beverage machine to start performing a third task of coffee bean grinding; and
 the operations further comprise:
 if the first task is frothing the milk and the second task is brewing the beverage, queuing the performance of the third task to begin automatically after the performance of the first task and before the performance of the second task, and 
 if the first task is brewing the beverage and the second task is frothing the milk, queuing the performance of the first task to begin automatically after the performance of the third task. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage machine further comprises a heater configured to heat water; and
 preparing the beverage machine for the performance of the second task comprises adjusting a temperature of the heater.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein, if the first task is brewing the beverage, adjusting the temperature of the heater comprises increasing the temperature of the heater; and
 if the first task is frothing the milk, adjusting the temperature of the heater comprises decreasing the temperature of the heater.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein brewing the beverage is brewing espresso or a sprover-style drink;
 the beverage machine further comprises a housing; and   if brewing the beverage is brewing the espresso, preparing the beverage machine for the performance of the second task further comprises relieving pressure in the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein preparing the beverage machine for the performance of the second task further comprises determining a temperature of the heater. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature of the heater is not increased or decreased if the determined temperature is an appropriate temperature for the second task. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature of the heater is adjusted until the determined temperature of the heater reaches a predetermined threshold temperature level. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein brewing the beverage is brewing espresso or a sprover-style drink. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to input a brew selection for brewing the beverage by selecting one brew option among a plurality of brew options;
 the memory stores therein a first plurality of predetermined temperature settings, each of the first plurality of predetermined temperature settings corresponding to one of the plurality of brew options;   if the first task is frothing the milk, preparing the beverage machine for the performance of the second task comprises adjusting a temperature of the heater to correspond to the predetermined temperature setting corresponding to the selected brew option;   the user interface is configured to allow the user to input a froth selection for frothing the milk by selecting one froth option among a plurality of froth options;   the memory stores therein a second plurality of predetermined temperature settings, each of the second plurality of predetermined temperature settings corresponding to one of the plurality of froth options; and   if the first task is brewing the beverage, preparing the beverage machine for the performance of the second task comprises adjusting a temperature of the heater to correspond to the predetermined temperature setting corresponding to the selected froth option.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage machine further comprises a housing having:
 a steam frother arm with a fluid flow path configured to deliver steam into a milk receptacle holding the milk to be frothed, and   a motor configured to drive a whisk of the milk receptacle to agitate the milk held by the milk receptacle.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to input a froth selection for frothing the milk; and
 the operations further comprise controlling the agitation and the delivery of the steam based on the input froth selection.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to input the froth selection by selecting one froth option among a plurality of froth options;
 the memory stores therein a plurality of predetermined temperature settings, each of the plurality of predetermined temperature settings corresponding to one of the plurality of froth options; and   if the first task is brewing the beverage, preparing the beverage machine for the performance of the second task comprises adjusting a temperature of the heater to correspond to the predetermined temperature setting corresponding to the selected froth option.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the agitation and the delivery of the steam are controlled based on the one of the plurality of predetermined settings corresponding to the one of the plurality of froth options corresponding to the input froth selection. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of froth options include a cold froth option, in which no steam is delivered via the steam frother arm, and a plurality of hot froth options, in which steam is delivered via the steam frother arm. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to input a brew selection for brewing the beverage by selecting one brew option among a plurality of brew options;
 the memory stores therein a second plurality of predetermined temperature settings, each of the second plurality of predetermined temperature settings corresponding to one of the plurality of brew options; and   if the first task is frothing the milk, preparing the beverage machine for the performance of the second task comprises adjusting a temperature of the heater to correspond to the predetermined temperature setting corresponding to the selected brew option.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to input the froth selection by selecting one froth option among a plurality of froth options;
 the user interface is configured to allow the user to input the froth selection by selecting one milk temperature option among a plurality of milk temperature options; and   if the first task is brewing the beverage, preparing the beverage machine for the performance of the second task comprises adjusting a temperature of the heater to correspond to the selected milk temperature option.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to input a brew selection for brewing the beverage;
 the user interface is configured to allow the user to input the brew selection by selecting one brew option among a plurality of brew options;   the memory stores therein a plurality of predetermined temperature settings, each of the plurality of predetermined temperature settings corresponding to one of the plurality of brew options; and   if the first task is frothing the milk, preparing the beverage machine for the performance of the second task comprises adjusting a temperature of the heater to correspond to the predetermined temperature setting corresponding to the selected brew option.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage machine is an espresso machine and includes the user interface, the controller, and the memory.